Project InnerSpace, non-profit organization dedicated to the global development of geothermal energy, has launched its GeoFund program to support geothermal pilot projects that can be replicated globally, along with its first funded initiative, the Tapri Geothermal Cold Storage Project, a geothermal powered cold storage and crop drying facility in Himachal Pradesh, India. The fund is designed to address financing barriers that often prevent community based geothermal projects from moving forward through traditional channels.
The Geothermal Exponential Opportunities Fund (GeoFund) uses philanthropic funding to support geothermal pilot projects, with a focus on community based applications that can strengthen local resilience and boost economic growth. According to Project InnerSpace, these pilots could play a crucial role in demonstrating geothermal’s viability in diverse technologies, applications, geologies, and geographies where it can support development, energy security, and prosperity.
First GeoFund Project in India
The first project under GeoFund is the Tapri Geothermal Cold Storage Project in Himachal Pradesh, India. Developed by Geotropy, the facility will combine geothermal powered cold storage and crop drying capacity in the apple growing region of Kinnaur.
Tapri, known for its apple orchards and horticultural produce, faces post harvest challenges due to limited cold storage infrastructure, a gap the organization aims to address so that farmers are often left with no option but to sell quickly at lower prices, which reduces earnings and creates financial uncertainty.
Harnessing Geothermal Energy for Agriculture
Geothermal energy provides an abundant and constant source of power, heating, and cooling. While widely available, it remains underutilized. In rural India, geothermal presents a secure and locally produced alternative that could significantly reduce post harvest losses.
Globally, about four percent of food is lost between harvest and retail. Storage shortages and lack of preservation infrastructure contribute heavily to this loss. By introducing geothermal based cold storage, communities like Tapri can preserve produce quality, minimize waste, and enable farmers to sell at better prices.
Impact of the Tapri Cold Storage Facility
The Tapri facility will have the capacity to store 500 tons of fruit and will also include fruit dehydration equipment. This will allow farmers to extend the shelf life of their produce, secure premium prices, and stabilize income streams. The project is expected to stimulate the regional economy by reducing crop losses, generating employment opportunities, and offering greater predictability for local workers and farmers.
Project InnerSpace has emphasized that this pilot will also serve as a demonstration model for other regions, showing how geothermal resources can support community based solutions with agricultural and economic benefits.
Jamie Beard, Executive Director of Project InnerSpace, highlighted the role of pilots like Tapri in advancing geothermal globally.
“A widely recognized barrier to the rapid expansion of geothermal energy is the lack of pilot projects to demonstrate impact across the various technologies, applications, geologies, and geographies globally where it could be most impactful in economic development, energy security, and prosperity. The Tapri pilot will tackle one of India’s most urgent agricultural challenges, lifting incomes, and proving a model to scale globally. We look forward to supporting the Geotropy team in the development of this pivotal project.”
Model for Wider Application
Project InnerSpace believes the Tapri pilot could provide a model for other parts of India and beyond. Similar challenges in agricultural supply chains are faced by farmers globally, leaving them vulnerable to post harvest losses and market volatility.
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The Project InnerSpace estimates that geothermal powered agricultural facilities like Tapri could be scaled to millions of hectares of cropland worldwide. To encourage replication, GeoFund will open source project outcomes and associated data while building partnerships to facilitate broader adoption.
“This project is about more than just building a cold storage unit—it’s about making sure our community can create economic growth by tapping into its geothermal potential. Our farmers already see the value of this work, and we now have a waiting list for people to use the facilities.”
Future Expansion of GeoFund
Beyond India, Project InnerSpace is exploring additional geothermal pilot projects across Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. These potential initiatives will focus on varied applications of geothermal energy in communities where the resource could play an important role in supporting agriculture, energy resilience, and economic activity.